A Nottingham boutique and a neighbouring dry cleaners are just two businesses which were targeted by crooks who ransacked their premises.

Owner of Elsa Boutique in Victoria Embankment, Madie Watson, fears other break-ins carried out in the same morning in The Meadows, the city centre and in West Bridgford may be linked.

She said the numbers of businesses targeted is potentially into double figures.

On Friday morning, Madie arrived at her dress business to find a smashed window, and three laptops and cash missing. The damage caused has shut the store until Tuesday.

Inside Elsa Boutique

She then heard next door Arkwright Dry Cleaners had been targeted - with the business confirming to the Post cash had been taken from their till.

And following a number of conversations about the break-in at their site, she now fears a spate of thefts were carried out by the same criminal or criminals that same morning.

Damage to the window at Elsa Boutique

Over the River Trent, Hair Scene in Central Avenue, West Bridgford, confirmed to the Post they were burgled, while Greggs in Carrington Street in the city centre was taped off yesterday following a theft at 5.20am where a masked man in a high vis bib escaped from the scene on a push bike with cash.

Elsa Boutique owner and manager Madie, 20, said: "At around 8.30am on Friday I got a call to say we'd had a break-in.

"One of the windows was completely smashed, the mannequins were everywhere, dresses were damaged, there was paperwork everywhere and I'm still picking glass up..

"Three laptops were taken and £250 cash. They even took the charity box, which is sickening. I've not even been around to check all the dresses.

Police outside Greggs in Carrington Street

"It's going to be over £2,500 worth of damage, if not more, and we're having to turn customers away.

"I'm angry, I want this person or these people to be caught, and I want other local businesses to be aware of the situation."

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they were investigating break-ins at Elsa Boutique, Hair Scene and Greggs, but are not currently linking the crimes with any other break-ins.

Hair Scene in West Bridgford

No arrests have been made in connection with these incidents.

A Greggs spokesman said: "We can confirm that there was a robbery at our shop in Carrington Street, Nottingham City Centre, this morning.

"The police responded to the incident and are investigating.

"No-one was harmed during the incident and we hope that the store will reopen and normal service will resume as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, or ring Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555111.